Trauma counsellors sent to Papua after mine collapse

The mining multi-national, Freeport, says 23 people remain missing after a mine collapse near its huge Grasberg mine in Papua on Tuesday.

Five deaths have now been confirmed after a fifth body was removed from debris in the Big Gossan tunnel site on Thursday.

Another 11 have been rescued with four flown to Jakarta for medical treatment.

The company says in a statement that the president of PT Freeport Indonesia, Rozik Soetjipto and the Indonesian director general of Mines and Energy, Thamrin Sihite, flew to the site of the disaster in Papua on Thursday.

Mr Soetjipto was to meet the relatives of the dead yesterday.

The company says it has flown in four psychologists trained in trauma counselling.

It says they are working with the families who have lost their loved ones and any of the employees needing help to cope with the situation.

Freeport says work at the mine has been suspended out of respect and sympathy for the deceased and injured workers.